Local girl makes Olympic softball team

Cheridan Hawkins, a 19-year-old student at the University of Oregon, is only a sophomore but as a softball pitcher, she is already on the USA National Women’s Softball Team.

"I remember the time I actually pitched in my first little league game and I think that's what got me hooked, is how much of a thrill it was to play and how exciting it was," said Cheridan Hawkins.

Hawkins said she was about five years old. Playing softball runs in her family and watching her older sister play sparked an interest in her that eventually developed into more than a hobby.

Hawkins said she started practicing for hours at a time, usually throwing 200 pitches a day.

"I put a lot of time and sacrificed a lot and I realized it was all worth it!" said Hawkins.

Those sacrifices are what brought her many medals like when earlier this year she made the Junior Olympic team and won a silver medal.

Hawkins was then asked to be in the USA National Women's Softball Team were she won a silver medal at the world cup and a bronze at the Canadian cup. Hawkins said she also won a gold medal at the Pan American qualifier.

"It kinda makes you speechless cause it’s like, you dream and dream about it, and you want to wear those three letters across your chest and to get a chance to do that it was awesome," said Hawkins.

Now, the 19-year-old will be competing at the Pan American games in Holland next summer and she said she wants every kid to know to know that if you work hard, anything is possible.

“You can be here, you can wear USA, you can wear Oregon ducks, you can wear any school you want!” said Hawkins.

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